Bag supporting device



Sept. 27, 1960 Filed June 10, 1957 w. B. DO'BBS 2,954,195

BAG SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. William B. Dobbs Sept. 27, 1960 w. B. DOBBS BAG SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1957 Fig. 5

INVENTOR. William B. Dobbs 7 g m F Patentecl Sept. 27, 1950 ice BAG SUPPORTING DEVICE William B. Dobbs, 1230 Clay St., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed June 10, 1957, Ser. No. 664,730

9 Claims. (Cl. 248-101) This invention relates to a method of packaging head type products, such as lettuce and the like, and also involves a portable container supporting device which is intended to hold a container, desirably of the bag type, in a readily accessible position so that the head type product may be filled rapidly therein.

While the method and device disclosed herein are particularly suitable for application in the packaging of lettuce, it should be understood that the method and device disclosed also are well suited for packaging numerous other products of various sizes and shapes.

Because of the highly perishable characteristics of let- .tuce, it is important in the lettuce industry that lettuce heads which have been cut may be packaged in the field as soon after cutting as possible so that the lettuce may be transported to a vacuum and refrigeration plant for treatment prior to shipment to market.

It is the generally accepted practice in the lettuce industry at the present time to utilize relatively expensive paperboard cartons for packaging lettuce in the fields. Such cartons are of relatively large size and generally are intended to hold twenty-four heads of lettuce. Such cartons are bulky and somewhat diflicult to handle. In addition, when such cartons are being filled, they generally are placed directly on the ground between rows of growing lettuce and the cut heads of lettuce are placed directly therein until the appropriate number of heads have been packaged in each carton. Because the lettuce fields often are muddy due to heavy rains, the cartons which are placed on the ground during the filling operation frequently become soggy and muddy and as a result lose much of their strength as well as becoming difiicult to handle.

Furthermore, such cartons, when filled with twentyfour heads of lettuce as is the common practice, are relatively heaw and, because of their weight, the filled cartons must be placed between the rows of lettuce prior to being picked up for transportation to the vacuum plant. The cartons, when filled, are too heavy to allow them to be placed directly on the rows of growing lettuce where they would be out of contact with the muddy areas between the lettuce rows. If filled cartons were placed on the rows of lettuce, the growing heads would be damaged. I

It should be understood, therefore, that the use of paperboard cartons for packaging lettuce in the fields after it has been out has certain disadvantages which are intended to be corrected by packaging lettuce in bags by utilizing the method and bag supporting device disclosed herein.

This invention has as an object, among others, the provision of a method by which heads of lettuce may be rapidly and easily packaged in the field for shipment in light weight and inexpensive bag-type containers. The invention has as another object the provision of an easily movable bag supporting device which may be transported directly into the lettuce fields and used therein regardless of the condition of the fields. Such a device is intended 2. to be moved between the rows of lettuce so that a packer utilizing the device has ready access to the supply of precut lettuce heads which have been placed on the lettuce rows awaiting packaging.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig; 1 is an isometric view of the bag supporting de- Vice of this invention with the bag holding means thereon in closed position and with the stop means in upright position;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section of the bag holding means of the bag supporting device taken in the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. l. The bag holding means is shown in open position and the lever operating means is shown in phantom lines;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bag supporting device showing the bag holding means in open position and a filled and sealed bag on the inclined surface resting against the upright stopmeans;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bag supporting device showing the stop means in lowered position with a filled bag sliding off the end of the device;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the bag supporting device showing the bag holding means in closed position with an open bag maintained on the inclined surface. The phantom lines illustrate the manner in which a plurality of lettuce heads are loaded into the bag;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a modification of the bag supporting device showing the bag holding means in open position;

Fig. 7 is a view of the modified form of device showing the bag holding means in closed position;

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the bag supporting device which shows the connection of part of the bag holding means to the remainder of the device. This figure shows the structure of the bag holding means looking in the direction of arrow 8 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a filled and closed bag with one face of the bag removed to show the arrangement of the rows of lettuce heads packaged therein.

The method of packaging lettuce heads which is used widely in the lettuce industry today, namely, packaging quantities of lettuce in a paperboard or similar type carton, has certain undesirable features, the more obvious of which are the cost of the cartons and the weight of-the filled cartons which necessitates filling and leaving the cartons in the low area existing between adjacent rows of growing lettuce. The instant invention is intended to rectify .the disadvantages inherent in utilizing cartons for packaging lettuce heads.

To make the packaging of lettuce in bags desirable, it is necessary that a bag supporting device which is readily movable directly into the lettuce fields be made available to the lettuce growers. The bag supporting device of this invention is. portable and easily movable into and through the lettuce fields by a single packer who can position bags thereon and fill the same with lettuce heads which have been out shortly prior there-to.

The bag supporting device of the instant invention may be made from commercially available materials but the body of the device desirably is formed from sheet metal or plywood. The illustrated embodiment desirably consists of a sheet metal body and a wooden inclined top surface of the type to be described. The embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 1 includes a body portion 2 which includes an inclined top surface 3 and opposite side walls 4 and 6. Adjacent one end the side walls 4 and 6 have portions 7 and 8 thereof which converge toward each other. Inclined top surface 3 has a lower end 9 which has converging margins which correspond in shape to the converging sections of side walls 7 and 8.

Connected to converging side wall portions 7 and 8 is body extension 11. Such extension 11 desirably is made from metal bent into a generally U-shape. Extension 11 is secured to converging side wall portions 7 and 8 in any convenient manner, such as by welding. Hingedly connected to the outer end of body extension 11 is stop means 12, the function of which will become apparent as the specification continues. Stop means 12 may take any convenient shape, but in the illustrated embodiment stop means 12 is formed as a curved plate 13 movably mounted by means of hinge 14 which is bolted or riveted to the end of body extension 11. A small cam rod 16 is connected securely to the bottom of plate 13. Rod 16 in turn is pivotally connected to flexible actuating rod 17.

Actuating rod 17 extends below the bottom of body portion 2 of the device to a location adjacent the opposite end thereof. Hingedly mounted on side wall 4 is a stop means actuating lever 18, which desirably is made of strap metal. Such lever 18 is pivotally secured to body portion 2 by means 'of pivot pin 19 journalled to the bottoms of side walls 4 and 6 and extending therebetween.

It should be understood that lever 18 is fixedly connected to pin 19 so that rotation of the lever causes the 'pin to rotate also. Fixedly and non-rotatably connected at one end to pin 19 intermediate the ends thereof is link 21 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The other end of link 21 is pivotally connected to actuating rod 17 by means of pivot pin 22. Because of the interconnection between lever 18, actuating rod 17 and plate 13, movement of lever 18 back and forth between the full line and phantom line positions shown in Fig. 4 causes curved plate 13 of stop means 12 to be raised or lowered for a purpose to be set out hereinafter. Movement of lever 18 produces rotation of pin 19 and movement of actuating rod 17 which in turn produces corresponding movement of cam rod 16 connected to plate 13 to raise or lower plate 13 as described above.

A lever stop 23 is positioned on side wall 4 for engagement with lever 18 to prevent accidental movement of the lever. Because lever 18 is quite long, it possesses considerable flexibility and it is a simple matter to bend the lever away from the plane of side wall 4 and around lever stop 23 so that curved plate 13 may be moved from the upright or raised position to the lowered position, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is of particular importance that the bag supporting device of this invention is readily and easily movable in the fields. To allow movement and portability, the device is provided with an enlarged wheel 24 at one end thereof. Wheel 24 is mounted to the body 2 by means of two substantially parallel Y-shaped brackets 26 and 27 depending therefrom. To allow rotation of the wheel a pivot pin or axle 28 passes through alined apertures in wheel 24 and in each of the Y-shaped brackets 26 and 27. Wheel 24 thereby is maintained in proper position between such brackets.

Substantially U-shaped leg portions 29 depend from each of side walls 4 and 6 to allow the device to be set upon the ground in firm position so that the bags may be filled without danger of the device tipping over. It should be noted that when the device is in such position of rest, surface 3 extends at an angle relative to the ground upon which the device rests. To insure a solid footing for the legs 29, elongated pads 31 are secured to the bottom thereof. Legs 29 may be secured to side walls 4 and 6 in any conventional manner but in the embodiment illustrated the legs are shown as being welded to the metal side walls 4 and 6 of the body portion 2. To rigidity the legs 29 and prevent inadvertent lateral movement thereof, an X-shaped frame 32 is secured between the legs 29 in a convenient manner, such as by welding.

In certain situations, it may be. desirable to have legs 29 foldable under body portion 2 for stacking one device on another. In such modification, the X-frame 32 could be eliminated and the legs 29 could be connected to side walls 4 and 6 by hinged connections which would allow legs 29 to be locked in the downwardly extending 4% position shown or to be folded upwardly into contact with the bottom of body portion 2.

To allow the bag supporting device to be grasped for movement, a pair of pivotal handles 33 are secured to the body portion 2 adjacent the end opposite stop means As shown in Figure 4, the handles 33 are freely pivotal from the phantom line position to the full line position shown. Each of handles 33 is connected to a body side wall by means of tabs 34- which desirably are struck out from the side walls in the manner illustrated. It should be understood, however, that tabs 34 could be connected to the side walls in any other convenient manner such as by welding or bolting, if so 'desired. Tabs 3 4 and handles 33' are pivotally connected by means of headed pins 35 which extend through alined apertures in portions connected to each of the tabs and handles. When the handles 33 are pivoted to the full line position shown in Fig. 4 for moving the device from one location to another, ends 36 of the handles 33 engage the rear face of tabs 34 and limit further pivotal movement of the handles. The bag supporting device may be wheeled from one location to another merely by grasping handles 33 and moving the device in wheel-barrow fashion. Because of the free pivotal connection of handles 33 with supporting tabs 34, the operator or packer utilizing this device need merely position the device in the desired location resting upon legs 29 and, upon releasing the handles 33, such handles automatically swing downwardly out of the way of the operator during the bag filling operation.

It is desirable to provide means on the bag supporting device for carrying a supply of bags therein for ready access by the packer as he moves with the device between adjacent rows of lettuce. For this purpose, an enlarged bag supply bin 37, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided on the interior of the body portion 2. A supply of bags 38 in collapsed condition is carried in bin 37 and such supply of bags is readily accessible to the packer. The bottom supporting surface of bin 37 upon which the supply of bags 38 rests may take any desired form. tom surface of bin 37 desirably is formed as a lattice Work comprising transverse bars 39 and longitudinal bars 41. The bottom of a supply bin is best shown in Fig. 7.

Mounted on the upper end of body portion 2 opposite stop means 12 is bag holding means 42. Such bag holding means comprises an open frame including two upright supporting columns '43 which are connected one to each of side walls 4 and 6 in any conventional manner, such as by welding or bolting.

Securely mounted to supporting columns 43 and traversing the space lying therebetween is a U-shaped bag supporting member 44. The bight portion 46 of supporting member 44 overlies inclined top surface 3 of the device and extends substantially parallel thereto. Depending from bight portion 46 and integral therewith are arms 47 which are connected, such as by welding, to supporting columns 43. It should be noted that the outer portions of arms 47 extend a substantial distance beyond the outer edge of bight portion 46, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. While the major part of bight portion 46 of supporting member 44 extends substantially parallel to inclined surface 3, it should be noted, as is shown in Fig. 2, that an outer portion thereof flares upwardly in a direction away from inclined surface 3. Similarly, while the inner portions of arms 47 extend substantially parallel to each other, outer portions thereof flare away from each other as is best shown in Fig. 5. In this manner, supporting member 44 is provided with an enlarged funnel-shaped mouth at the outer end thereof. Such supporting member serves as an open frame or bag shaping means for shaping the mouth of a bag and holding the same in open position for ease in filling lettuce heads therein.

In the embodiments illustrated, however, the bot Pivotally connected to supporting member 44, desir-- ably by means of elongated hinge 48, is an upper jaw member '49. It should be noted that jaw member 49 is substantially U shaped and has a bight portion and side arms which correspond in shape to the inner portions of bight portion 46' and arms 47 of supporting member 44. The purpose of hinged jaw 49 will be set out hereinafter.

A lower movable jaw 51 desirably is hingedly connected to body portion 2 adjacent inclined surface 3. Jaw 51 is substantially U shaped and includes bight portion 52 and opposite similar side arms 53. As best illustrated in Fig. 2, jaw 51 is hingedly connected adjacent inclined surface 3' and is capable of movement from an oblique open position relative to surface 3 to an overlying closed position in which the jaw contacts the'top of surface 3. I aw 51 serves as means cooperable with supporting member 44 for shaping the mouth of the bag and performs the additional function of holding the bag in proper position in a manner to be disclosed;

Jaw 51 is mounted in such a manner that the side arms 53 thereof extend Within the confines of the downwardly extending side arms 47 of the upper supporting member 44 but are free to pivot therebetween from the open to closed position described above. It should be noted, as is evident from Fig. 5, that the outer portions of side arms 53 flare away from each other in a manner similar to the flaring of side arms 47 of supporting member 44. Because of the divergence of arms 47 and 53, when jaws 49 and 51 are pivoted to the closed position, an enlarged open frame funnel mouth is provided on the outer end of bag holchng means 42. Due to such funnel mouth a person filling lettuce or the like into a bag secured to the bag holding means 42 is able to gain ready access to the bag interior.

By pivoting jaws 49 and 51 to the closed position shown in Fig. 5, it is possible to hold an elongated paper bag 54 securely in place on the inclined surface 3*. In such position, bag 54 is maintained with an upper wall or face and portions of opposite side walls securely clamped between upper hinged jaw 49 and the inner projecting bight portion 46 of supporting member 44. Similarly, the lower wall or face of the bag is securely clamped between lower hinged jaw 51 and inclined surface 3. The inner projecting end of bight portion 46 of supporting member 44 is spaced from inclined surface 3 a distance substantially equal to the height of the mouth of the bag 54 to be utilized with this device. Similarly side arms 47 of supporting member 44 and side arms 53 of lower jaw 51 which are inserted into the inner surface of the bagmouth are spaced laterally a distance substantially equal to the width of the mouth of the bag 54. In this manner, the bag is tightly and securely held with its mouth fully open when hinged jaws 49' and 51 are moved to the closed position.

While the frictional contact of the bag 54 with the various parts of the bag holding means 42 is normally suflicient to hold the bag in proper position, under certain situations it is desirable to provide abrasive means on opposing surfaces of jaw 49 and supporting member 44 as well as on opposing surfaces on the under side of jaw 51 and on the upper face' of inclined surface 3. The abrasive means utilized may take any desired form but in the illustrated embodiment elongated strips 56 of sand paper or similar abrasive have been adhesively secured to opposing surfaces on jaw 49 and supporting member 44 and also to inclined surface 3 and the under side of jaw 51 (see Fig. 2). In this manner, the inner surfaces of the bag mouth may be securely engaged with the bag holding means 42 and inadvertent slipping of the bag from contact with the bag holding means during filling of the bag is precluded. While elongated abrasive strips 56 secured to the bag holding means 42 have been utilized successfully with the illustrated embodiment of this device, it should be understood that the friction between bag 54 and bag holding means 42 may be increased in other ways, such as by directly toughening or abrading opposing surfaces on the bag holding means.

- To move the jaws 49 and 51 from the open position to the closed position lever type operating means are provided on the bag supporting device. As best seen in Fig. 5, the operating means includes a bell crank handle 57, a connecting link 58' and another bell crank 59. A supporting strap 61.is securely and immovably mounted relative to side wall 6in any manner, such as by welding to tab 34. Supporting strap 61* provides means by which handle 57 may be pivoted from one position to another to operate the movable jaws of bag holding means 42. Supportingv strap 61 serves to securely locate handle 57 in a predetermined position relative to the remainder of the operating means.

Handle 57 is pivotally connected to supporting strap 61 by means of pin 62. It should be understood that handle 57 may pivot about the end of supporting strap 61 on pin 62 but handle 57 may not move transversely of supporting strap 61 nor may strap 61 move.

Connecting link 58' is pivotally mounted between bell crank handle 57 and bell crank 59 by means of pivot pins 63 and 64. Stop means is formed on side wall 6 and is intended to limit movement of bell crank handle 57.

Lower movable jaw 51 is adapted for concurrent movement with bell crank 59 because of its connection with rod 67. (See Fig. 8.) Rid 67 is non-rotatably connected to bell crank 59, as shown at 68 and any rotation of bell crank 59 produces corresponding rotation of rod 6'7. A plurality of spaced straps 69 are secured to the under surface of jaw 51 in any convenient manner, such as by welding. Rod 67 passes through apertures in straps 69 but the rod is non-rotatably secured therein. Because of the secure connection between rod 67 and straps 69, jaw 51 will pivot as rod 67 rotates. It should be understood that straps 69 are connected to rod 67 in any conventional manner, such as by welding or brazing. A plurality of spaced straps 71 are secured to the under face of inclined surface 3 in any conventional manner, such as by welding. Rod 67 passes through apertures in straps 71 and is journaled therein for free rotation relative thereto. In this manner jaw 51 is rotatably mounted relative to top surface 3 and such rotation is effected by rotation of rod 67 to which jaw 51 is non-rotatably secured by means of straps 69.

Non-rotatably secured to the other end of rod 6'7 is link 72. It should be understood that link 72 will pivot up and down as rod' 67 is rotated due to the secure connection therebetween. Extending upwardly away from inclined top surface 3 (Figs. 1 and 5) are strut members 73. One such strut member 73 is pivotally mounted on one end thereof to the free end of bell crank 59 while the other strut member 73 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the free end of strap 72. Each of the strut members 73 are at their upper ends pivotally connected to the upper movable jaw 49 by means of tabs '74 secured, such as by welding, on opposite sides of the jaw 49. Each of struts 73 has an upper portion bent inwardly for contact in an aperture formed in each of tabs 74. It should be noted that upward or downward movement of the struts 73 will result in similar hinged pivotal upward and downward movement of jaw 49.

It should be understood that upward or downward movement of the operating handle 57 results in the jaws 49 and 51 being moved in unison between the open position shown in Fig. 2 and the closed position shown in Fig. 5. The jaws 49 and 51 are moved in the following manner: by pulling upwardly on handle 57 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2, the end thereof connected to link 58 will move downwardly, as indicated by the arrow, until a portion of the handle 57 strikes stop 66. Such upward movement of handle 57 causes bell crank 59, due to the corresponding movement of link 58, t9

rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2. In this manner, one end of bell crank 59 moves to the left of Fig. 2 as shown by the arrow while the other end thereof moves downwardly also as shown by the arrow. Because bell crank 59 is non-rotatably secured to rod 67, which in turn is non-rotatably secured to jaw 51, jaw 51 will be rotated downwardly into contacting engagement with inclined top surface 3 as bell crank 59 is ro-..

tated due to movement of handle 57. At the same time bell crank 59' is being rotated from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 5, it pulls strut 73 downwardly. Also, because link 72 is non-rotatably secured to rod 67, link 72 will pivot downwardly 'as rod 67 is rotated and pull downwardly the other strut 73. As the struts 73 move downwardly with the ends of bell crank 59 and link 72, upper jaw 49 is pulled down into clamping engagement with the top of bight portion 46 of the supporting member 44. By means of the lever operating structure described, it is a simple matter simultaneously and rapidly to move jaws 49 and 51 from an open or nonclamping position to a closed or clamping position.

The device of this invention is utilized in the following manner: when the jaws 49 and 51 are in the open position, as shown in Fig. 2, that is, with the operating handle 57 in the down position, an elongated bag 54 may be slidably engaged with an upper wall or face thereof overlying the bight portion 46 of supporting member 44 and with a lower wall or face thereof positioned beneath the obliquely raised lower jaw 51. By pulling upwardly on the handle 57 the jaws 49 and 51 are pivoted to the closed or clamping position in the manner described previously thereby securely maintaining the opposite upper and lowerv walls of the bag 54 in the fully open mouth condition shown in Fig. 5. When in such position, the bag is unable to slide down inclined surface 3 and is thereby prevented from inadvertent movement during filling of the bag with heads of lettuce or the like.

Desirably the bag is filled with lettuce in the following manner: after the packer has positioned the device with a bag secured in proper position thereon adjacent a supply of lettuce heads which previously have been cut, the operator grasps a group or row of desirably three lettuce heads with one head in each hand and with a third head compressed between the other two. Such a row of lettuce heads is inserted into a bag in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. By turning the row of lettuce heads somewhat longitudinally or lengthwise to correspond with the elongated dimension of the bag, it is a simple matter for the operator to insert the row of heads a substantial distance into the bag. Then, by twisting or turning the row of lettuce heads transversely of the bag, the heads are positioned with the outer two heads contacting opposite bag side walls.

It should be understood that the bag generally -is of such length that the operator is unable to position the first group or row of three heads adjacent the bottom of the bag and such first group of three heads must be positioned at some location in the bag which is spaced from the end thereof. But such first row is maintained in such position because of the contact of the two outer heads with the bag side walls. However, when the second row of three lettuce heads is inserted into the bag in a manner similar to that just mentioned, such second row of lettuce heads may be utilized to force the first row of heads firmly against the bottom of the bag. 1 By repeating the operation desirably twice more, twelve heads of lettuce may be rapidly and easily inserted into the bag and the bag is ready for closing.

By moving the handle 57 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in phantom in Fig. 2, the clamping jaws 49 and 51 are automatically moved to the open position shown in Fig. 2. When the bag 54 is thus released from clamping engagement with the bag holding means 42, it is free to slide on inclined surface 3 to a position adjacent curved plate 13 at the opposite end thereof. In this respect, it should be noted that bag 54 is shorter in length than the total length ofinclined surface 3 plus body extension 11. In this manner, it is possible for the bag to be moved from engagement with holding means 42 after the bag has been filled so that the mouth of the bag may be closed to re-'' The bag 54 desirably is a strong multi-wall flexible paper bag having a square bottom and bellows type side walls. Furthermore the bags utilized desirably are of rectangular cross sectional shape with parallel face walls and side walls when set up. Desirably the distance between opposite face walls is equal to the diameter of an average size lettuce head while the distance between opposite side walls is equal to three times the diameter of an average size lettuce head. In this manner rows of three heads can be snugly packed with desirably four such rows per bag, as is illustrated in Fig. 9. In addition, the bag desirably is formed adjacent its mouth with appropriately located layers of pressure sensitive adhesive which is nontacky to most surfaces but which will adhesively grip surfaces which have been coated with the same type of pressure sensitive adhesive. In this manner, it is a simple matter to quickly close the mouth of bag 54 merely by folding opposite wall portions thereof so that the pressure sensitive adhesive layers are brought into contact.

A filled bag 54, which desirably has been closed while resting on surface 3, is shown in Fig. 3 resting against the inclined plate 13 of stop means 12. When in such position the operator or packer need only move lever member 18 to the forward position shown in Fig. 4. In this manner curved plate 13 is moved to the lowered position and the bag is free to slide off the end of the'device. As the packer uses handles 33 to raise one end of the device he moves backwardly between the rows of lettuce and the filled'bag' automatically will drop off the end of the device for subsequent loading and transportation to the vacuum plant. Under certain conditions it may be unnecessary to raise an end of the device to slide a filled bag therefrom. A slight push on the bag after the stop plate 13 has been lowered will be sufficient to move the bag from inclined surface 3. After unloading a filled bag the device is then free to be utilized again merely by taking another bag from the supply bin 37 and repeating the process described previously.

A modification of the bag supporting device disclosed herein is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In such modification,- certain changes have been made in the bag holding means as well as the lever operating means but the remainder of the device is essentially the same as described previous ly with reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 5. In Figs. 6 and 7, a bellows type bag 54 of the type discussed previously is secured in position on inclined surface 3 by positioning the mouth thereof over a pair of bag supporting projections or arms 76. Arms 76 are bent to extend in several planes and have lower portion 77 thereof adjustably engaged in clamping devices 78 secured to each of the side walls 4 and 6 of the bag supporting device. Clamping devices 78 have thumb screws 79 threadedly engaged therein for contacting lower portions 77 of arms 76. Arms 76 may be moved upwardly or downwardly in clamping devices 78 and clamped in predetermined position by screws 79, thereby allowing thebag holding means to accommodate various sized bags.

The upper portions of arms 76 include projections 80 which extend therefrom in a direction overlying inclined surface 3 and substantially parallel thereto. It is such projections 80 which act to support the bag with its mouth in opened position. Arms 76 with projections 80 thereon serve as bag shaping means in the form of an dpen frame which is insertable into thebag mouth to maintain the same in open position.

Hingedly connected adjacent the end of inclined surface 3 is movable jaw 81. Such jaw 81 desirably is secured in place by means of hinge 82. It will be noted that jaw 81 is free to move from the oblique position shown in Fig. 6 to the flat closed position shown in Fig. 7 wherein the jaw is in substantial contact with the inclined surface 3. I aw 81 serves as means cooperable with projections 80 of arms 76 to hold the bag mouth open as well as maintaining the bag in proper position on top surface 3 of the device. A bag 54 which has been positioned with its upper Walls in contact with projection 80- of arms 76 and with its lower wall engagedbeneath movable jaw 81, may be securely clamped in position when jaw 81 is moved to the downwardly extending position as shown in Fig. 7.

law 81 is moved from one position to another by means of cam shaft 83 to which it is connected by link 84. As shown in the cutaway portion of Fig. 6, link 84 is pivotally connected to the underside of jaw 81. Link 84 similarly is pivotally connected to a projection 85 on shaft 83. Link 84 will move in the same direction in which shaft 83 rotates due to its connection with projection 35 on the shaft. In this manner when shaft 83 is rotated, jaw 81 will be raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft.

The lever operating means used in this embodiment to rotate shaft 83 includes a bell crank handle 86 which is pivotally connected at 87 and 88 to a pair of links 89 and 91. Link 91 at its one end 92 is non-rotatably secured to shaft 83 so that movement of link 91 automatically produces rotative movement of shaft 83'. Link 89 is pivotally mounted-to side wali 6 of the supporting device as shown at 93.

The lever operating means disclosed functions in the following manner: by moving the bell crank handle 86 from the downward position of Fig. 6 to the raised position of Fig. 7, links 89 and 91, because of their pivotal connections with bell crank 86, are similarly moved to the position shown at Fig. 7. Movement upwardly of link 91 produces counter-clockwise rotation of shaft 83 which in turn draws link 84 and jaw 81 therewith downwardly to the clamping position shown in Fig. 7. In this manher, the bag 54 is securely maintained in position with the mouth thereof open. To release the bag it is merely necessary to urge operating handle 86 from the up position of Fig. 7 to the down position of Fig. 6. It should be understood that the operating lever means shown in each of the modifications of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is intended to be merely illustrative in that other similar lever and link arrangements also could be utilized to move the jaws from an open to a clamping position.

From the foregoing, it should be noted that the bag supporting device disclosed herein gives rise to an easy and rapid method by which heads of lettuce may be packaged directly in the fields. Because of the relatively light weight of the bag supporting device and its portable characteristics, it is possible to package lettuce in the fields even when the fields are quite muddy from recent rains. Furthermore, because desirably only twelve heads of lettuce are intended to be packaged per bag, the filled bag is considerably lighter than the filled paperboard carton of the type which was mentioned previously. Therefore when the fields are muddy, it is not necessary to lay the filled bag directly on the muddy ground. Because of the relatively light weight of the filled bags, they may be positioned directly on top of the rows of growing lettuce after filling, where they will be free from contact with muddy and soggy ground lying be tween the rows of lettuce, without danger of damaging the growing lettuce. In this manner the bags may be kept relatively dry and thereby retain their strength for shipment of the lettuce to the vacuum plant.

While each of the illustrated embodiments show a single bag being positioned on the inclined surface Za'duf ing the filling operation, it should be understood thatunder certain conditions a plurality of collapsed bags may be placed on inclined surface 3 with an open bag positioned thereover in contact with the bag holdingmeans described previously. In such case it would be unnecessary for the packer to reach into the supply bin 37 to obtain an empty bag each time a bag has been filled and dropped from the device. Under certain situations, it may be desirable to slightly recess the inclined surface 3 to prevent the flattened bags from sliding from said surface when a filled bag is allowed to do so. In this manner a small supply of bags is positioned for ready access to the packer.

As mentioned previously, the bags used with this device and method desirably are intended to be filled with one dozen heads of lettuce per bag. Although several sizes of lettuce heads are cut in the fields for transportation to market, the great majority of the lettuce heads cut are of a size which will properly fill a bag when packed twelve per bag. If smaller or larger lettuce heads than those commonly cut are to be packaged in the bags used with this device, they maybe so packed without modifying the device or the method employed. In such case it merely will be necessary to insert more or fewer groups of heads into the bag to, fill the same. Accordingly, under certain conditions rows of more than three heads or less than three heads may be inserted in the bag during the filling operation depending on the head size.

The bags used desirably have the interiors thereof smooth and slick to cut down friction between the bag andthe lettuce heads which are inserted therein. Such a smooth interior may be accomplished by high finish ironing or calendering or by coating the interior of the bag with an appropriate friction deterrent.

It has been found that the production of a packer is at least as great, if not greater, when packaging lettuce in bags than when lettuce is packaged in cartons of the previously utilized type. While individual bags maybe filled with twelve lettuce heads in as little time as 30 seconds, it has been found that during an eight hour day an average of bags may be filled and sealed by one packer per hour. In contrast to this, 20 cartons per hour is considered good production for a packer when cartons are used. Even though filled cartons contain twice as many heads of lettuce as filled bags, it readily can be ascertained that more lettuce heads can be packaged in the same time period by utilizing the bag packag ing method than by utilizing the carton packaging method.

Furthermore, the bag packaging method disclosed here in is considerably less expensive than the carton packaging method previously used. Multi-walled bags of the type used are approximately one-fourth as expensive as a paperboard carton. Considering that two bags are necessary to package the same amount of lettuce as packaged in one carton, it becomes apparent that the cost of bags is only one-half the cost of cartons. The cost factor disclosed is of great importance in that the cartons or bags seldom are reused after they have once been filled with lettuce and transported to the vacuum plant for processing.

The bags filled by using the disclosed method are particularly Well suited for handling and stacking during shipment because of their substantially parallel opposite faces. Furthermore, the lettuce heads are snugly packed in the bag with an accompanying elimination of substantially all voids from the bags. A filled bag is a neat, secure, tight package which is capable of taking rough handling without tearing or splitting thereof.

Having thus made a full and complete disclosure of my device and the method of packaging a product by utilizing the same, I claim:

1. A bag supporting device comprising a surface on which a bag to be filled with product is to be supported on its side during filling thereof, means for holding a bag on said surface and for shaping and maintaining open the mouth thereof during filling; said bag holding and shaping means comprising a bag engaging frame mo'unted adjacent an end of said surface including a projection fixedly arranged in a predetermined position relative to said surface and extending generally parallel thereto, said projection being insertable a substantial distance into the mouth of said bag and engageable with a wall of said bag when the bag mouth is positioned thereover, and a hingedly mounted movable jaw interposed between said projection and said surface, said jaw being free of direct connection with said projection and movable independently thereof between open and closed positions so that another wall of said bag may be inserted beneath said jaw and between the same and said surface when said jaw is in the open position, said bag mouth being maintainable open and unrestricted by said projection and said jaw when said jaw is closed; and operating mechanism comprising lever operated mechanical linkage operatively connected with said jaw and manually operable for pivotally moving said jaw relative to said surface between said open and closed positions for releasing said bag or clamping the same against said surface.

2. The bag supporting device of claim 1 wherein said bag holding and shaping means includes a second bag clamping jaw which is pivotally mounted above said bag supporting surface and which is cooperable with said projection for clamping said first mentioned bag wall between said projection and said second jaw, said second jaw being operatively connected with said operating mechanism whereby both said jaws may be moved in unison between their respective open and closed positions.

3. A device for supporting bags during filling thereof comprising a bin for carrying a supply of bags, a smooth inclined surface for supporting a bag to be filled, bag holding means adjacent one end of said surface; said holding means comprising portions projecting above said surface and fixedly mounted in predetermined spaced relationship thereto for engaging at least one wall of said bag to hold the mouth of said bag open, and a movable jaw pivotally mounted opposite said projecting portions and movable independently thereof for engaging an opposite wall of said bag whereby said opposite wall may be clamped between said jaw and said surface to prevent said bag from sliding on said surface during filling thereof; lever controlled jaw operating means for moving said jaw into and out of contact with said opposite bag wall whereby said jaw may be locked in contact with said opposite bag wall so that said bag may be clamped beneath said jaw and thereby maintained in fixed open position on said surface for filling and may be released from beneath said jaw after filling to allow said bag mouth to be closed, and stop means adjacent another end of said surface movable between raised and lowered positions whereby said stop means when in the raised position is effective to prevent said bag after filling from sliding off said device.

4. Bag holding means for maintaining a bag in predetermined position on a flat surface with the mouth thereof open comprising at least one elongated projection extending from said means above said surface and extending substantially parallel to said surface in predetermined fixed relationship thereto, said projection having a portion thereof for engaging a wall of said bag, a movable jaw hingedly mounted adjacent said surface, said jaw being movable independently of said projection from an open position wherein said jaw is obliquely disposed relative to said surface to a closed position wherein said jaw overlies and contacts said surface, and operating means comprising mechanical linkage operatively connected to said jaw for moving the same between said open and closed positions, whereby another wall of said bag may be interposed between said jaw and said surface and securely clamped therebetween thereby precluding said bag from moving on said surface when said jaw is in closed position, said projection and said jaw whenin closed position cooperating to spread the mouth of said bag and maintain the same open to facilitate filling of a product therein.

5. A portable device for supporting a bag during filling of a product therein including a flat top surface upon which a bag is intended to rest, bag holding means adjacent one end of said surface for maintaining the mouth of a bag open and preventing movement of the bag on said surface during filling of the same; said holding means comprising a projection extending therefrom in spaced overlying relationship relative to said surface, said projection having a portion thereof for engaging a wall of a bag positioned on said surface, a bag clamping jaw movable independently of and being free of connection with said projection and mounted opposite said projection adjacent said surface for engaging another wall of a bag positioned on said surface, said jaw being movable from an open position wherein the other wall of the bag may be slidably positioned between said jaw and said surface to a closed position wherein said jaw may clamp the other wall of the bag against said surface, and jaw operating means for moving said jaw between said open and closed positions, said operating means mechanically locking said jaw against said sur face when said jaw is in the closed position.

6. A wheeled vehicle for transportation in the field for the packaging of heads of lettuce and the like in bags of predetermined length comprising a body having a bag supporting surface which is inclined relative to the ground in a position of rest of the vehicle, said inclined surface being longer than the length of a bag intended to be supported thereon, bag shaping means adjacent the upper end of said surface including an open frame over which the mouth of said bag can be inserted and which when said bag is thus inserted maintains the bag mouth in substantially fully open position to enable loading of heads through said frame into the bag, clamping means pivotally mounted on said body cooperable with said shaping means to hold the bag in position on said surface, manually operable linkage means connected to said clamping means for pivoting said clamping means to allow disengagement of said bag from said shaping means to permit sliding of said bag down said inclined surface, releasable stop means movable between raised and lowered positions mounted adjacent the lower end of said inclined surface, said stop means when in the raised position precluding discharge of a filled bag from said inclined surface whereby such filled bag may be maintained on said surface by said stop means while the mouth thereof is closed, said inclined surface being free of restriction when said stop means is in the lowered position whereby such filled and closed bag may slide from said surface to make room for another bag to be filled, and actuating means including a control lever located adjacent the upper end of said inclined surface for controlling the position of said stop means.

7. A portable wheeled vehicle for transportation in the field for the packaging of heads of lettuce and the like in bags of predetermined length, comprising a body including a bag supporting surface, and bag holding means adjacent one end of said supporting surface; said bag holding means comprising a projection including a portion spaced from and extending above said bag supporting surface and secured in a predetermined fixed position substantially parallel to said surface for insertion into the mouth of a bag positioned on said surface for maintaining said bag mouth open, and a bag clamping jaw free of connection with said projection hingedly mounted opposite said projection and movable independently thereof for engaging another wall of said bag, and operating structure for moving said jaw independently of said projection between an open position wherein said other bag wall may be positioned between said jaw and said supporting surface and a closed position wherein said jaw is clamped and locked with said other bag wall between said supporting surface and said jaw, said jaw operating structure including an operating lever movably mounted adjacent said one end of said supporting surface and operatively connected by mechanical linkage to said jaw whereby movement of said lever in a given direction effects movement of said jaw between said open and closed positions.

8. A portable wheeled vehicle for transportation in the field for the packaging of heads of lettuce and the like in bags of predetermined length, comprising a body including a bag supporting surface, a bin for carrying a supply of such bags to be filled, and bag holding means adjacent one end of said surface; said bag holding means comprising a projection including a portion spaced from and extending above said bag supporting surface and secured in a predetermined fixed position substantially parallel to said surface for insertion into the mouth of a bag positioned on said surface for maintaining said bag mouth open, and a bag clamping jaw free of connection with said projection hingedly mounted opposite said projection and movable independently thereof for engaging another wall of said bag, and operating structure for moving said jaw independently of said projection between an open position wherein said other bag wall may be positioned between said jaw and said supporting surface and a closed position wherein said jaw clamps and locks said other bag wall between said supporting surface and said jaw, said jaw operating structure including means for locking said jaw in said closed position clamped against said supporting surface whereby movement of said bag on said surface is precluded while said bag is being filled.

9. A portable wheeled vehicle for transportation in the field for the packaging of heads of lettuce and the like in bags of predetermined length, comprising a body including a bag supporting surface which is of greater length than the length of a bag intended to be supported thereon, a bin for carrying a supply of such bags to be filled, bag holding means adjacent one end of said surface and releasable stop means movably mounted adjacent the other end of said surface; said bag holding means comprising a projection including a portion extending above said bag supporting surface and secured in predetermined fixed position substantially parallel to said surface for insertion into the mouth of a bag positioned on said surface for maintaining said bag mouth open, and a bag clamping jaw hingedly mounted opposite said projection and movable independently thereof for engaging another wall of said bag, and operating structure for moving said jaw between an open position wherein said other bag wall may be positioned between said jaw and said supporting surface and a closed position wherein said jaw clamps said other bag wall against said supporting surface, said jaw operating structure including means for locking said jaw in said closed position clamped against said supporting surface whereby movement of said bag on said surface is precluded while said bag is being filled; said releasable stop means comprising a stop member movable between raised and lowered positions, and actuating means including a control lever positioned adjacent said one end of said supporting surface for effecting movement of said stop member between said positions, said stop member when in said raised position retaining a filled bag on said supporting surface after the same has been freed from engagement with said bag holding means so that said bag mouth may be closed before said filled bag moves from said supporting surface, and said stop member when in said lowered position allowing said filled and closed bag slidably to move off said supporting surface to make room for another bag to be filled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,807 Wing May 10, 1887 524,041 Harmon et a1 Aug. 7, 1894 779,124 Hafiey Jan. 3, 1905 2,019,438 Smith Oct. 29, 1935 2,057,284 Walker Oct. 13, 1936 2,075,833 Smith Apr. 6, 1937 2,555,585 Fairbank June 5, 1951 2,628,907 Darden Feb. 17, 1953 

